Ludhiana Police Arrest Gang of Looters, One Accused Lent His Licensed Weapon for Rs. 1 Lakh

Ludhiana police has arrested a gang of looters, one of whom had lent his licensed weapon to other criminals to commit robberies for Rs. 1 lakh. The police arrested three people and recovered vehicles, the pistol, and ammunition as part of the bust. It has been reported that the gang was involved in 13 snatchings and robberies in the past two months.

The gang of looters was arrested on Thursday, February 2, and were identified as Vishal Verma of Rishi Nagar, Haibowal, Ravinder Singh alias Ravi of Model Town Extension, and David Raj of Pakhowal road. The police also recovered a car, a motorcycle, a scooter, and one .32-bore pistol with two live cartridges. The police also found that Vishal Verma was lending his licensed .32-bore weapon for a rent of Rs 1 lakh to other criminals.

“Vishal was aware that his licensed weapon would be used for snatchings and robberies hence he played an equal role in the operation of gang. Now his weapon has been impounded and his weapon license would be canceled with immediate effect,” said CP Mandeep Sidhu. He stated that Verma runs a salon in Sarabha Nagar market. He lent his weapon to the other two criminals for committing crimes in December and had taken Rs. 1 lakh in return as “rent.”

It has been reported that the gang has been involved in 13 snatchings and robberies in over two months. Some of these incidents were not reported by the victims. One of the major robberies they carried out was of a money changer shop in Pakhowal, but the owner did not lodge any complaint with the police. Recently, the gang tried to commit a robbery in the Kotwali area but was unsuccessful.

ADCP Rupinder Kaur added that the gang had also been involved in looting from paan shops, roadside vendors, migrants, etc. Now the court will seek police remand of these accused so that their entire criminal record can be scanned and their involvement in other major loot incidents can be verified.

Vineet Washington